INTRODUCTION

PARACAIN contains Proparacaine which belongs to the group of medicines called Local anesthetic agents. It is indicated for topical anesthesia in ophthalmic practice. It is used to cause temporary numbness of the eye, prior to any eye examination (such as tonometry or gonioscope) or ophthalmic procedures (such as cataracts, conjunctival scraping or removal of sutures or foreign bodies from the eye).

Proparacaine is a fast-acting local anesthetic agent. It decreases pain sensation and cause temporary numbness in the eye by blocking the transfer of pain signals from the peripheral part of the body (i.e., eye) to the brain. PARACAIN is a very fast acting anesthetic agent which brings in anesthesia within 30 seconds of application and the anesthetic effects may last up to 10-15 minutes or longer.

Before initiating therapy with PARACAIN, inform your doctor if you have any heart problems or hyperthyroidism (increased functions of thyroid gland). You must also inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before PARACAIN is given to you.

After anesthesia is applied, do not touch, rub, or scratch your eye until the effects of anesthesia comes down. PARACAIN is generally safe and well-tolerated. However, if you experience any unusual eye reactions such as eye redness with itching or burning sensation, consult your doctor for advice.

USES OF PARACAIN

• Used to cause numbness of the eyes (topical anesthesia) prior to certain eye examinations (such as tonometry or gonioscope) or ophthalmic procedures (such as cataracts, conjunctival scraping or removal of sutures or foreign bodies from the eye)

HOW PARACAIN WORKS

PARACAIN reduces sensation and causes numbness at the site of application very quickly. It contains proparacaine which acts by blocking the flow of certain ions (sodium ions) through the nerves that causes pain sensation. As a result, it limits the transfer of pain signals from the peripheral part of the body (i.e., eye) to the brain which ultimately leads to eye anesthesia.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

PARACAIN will be administered to you only by a doctor or a nurse prior to an eye procedure. It is not meant for self-administration. It is for ophthalmic use only. Your doctor will decide the dose frequency for you depending upon the anesthetic effect that is required to carry out the procedure.

SIDE EFFECTS OF PARACAIN

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Eye redness:

Avoid straining your eyes by looking at light sources, mobile phones or television. Place an ice pack on your eyes to ease the irritation. Contact your doctor if this symptom worsens.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug-Drug Interaction:

Inform your doctor about all the medicines that you take including prescription, non-prescription and herbal supplements before application of PARACAIN as a precaution.

Overdosage:  

PARACAIN will be administered to you only by a doctor or a nurse in a hospital, and so it is unlikely to receive an overdose. However, consult your doctor or nurse if you experience any unusual symptoms.

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

• Keep PARACAIN out of reach of children
• Store PARACAIN in a refrigerator 2-8°C

FAQs ABOUT PARACAIN

How long should I take PARACAIN?

PARACAIN is not meant for self-administration. It will be administered to you only by a doctor or a nurse in a hospital prior to an eye procedure. Therefore, your doctor will decide the dose frequency of PARACAIN for you depending upon the anesthetic effect that is required to carry out the procedure.

Can PARACAIN cause numbness?

Yes. PARACAIN causes temporary numbness of the eye. It is a very fast acting anesthetic agent which brings in anesthesia within 30 seconds of application and the anesthetic effects may last up to 10-15 minutes or longer. It decreases pain sensation and cause temporary numbness in the eye by blocking the transfer of pain signals from the eye to the brain.

Can I drive after taking [GBBNKEYWORD]?

Do not drive or operate any tools after using PARACAIN. As PARACAIN causes temporary numbness of eye, wait until the effects of anesthesia comes down before driving or travelling.

How often PARACAIN can be used?

Your doctor will decide the dose, frequency and duration and will give you proparacaine, before an eye procedure or examination. Ask your doctor for recommendations on pain medications if you have pain following an eye procedure.

Is PARACAIN safe for use in patients with cataracts?

PARACAIN is recommended for use to cause temporary numbness of the eye before removal of cataract in the eye. However, inform your doctor if you have any other eye problems as a precaution.

What precautions should I take while using PARACAIN?

Before initiating therapy with PARACAIN, inform your doctor if you have any allergies to local anesthetics, heart problems or hyperthyroidism. You must also inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before PARACAIN is given to you. After anesthesia is applied, do not touch, rub, or scratch your eye until the effects of anesthesia comes down.

REFERENCES

1. KD. Tripathi. Local Anesthetics. Essentials of medical pharmacology. 8th edition. 2019. Page – 393.

2. Rajesh Subhash Joshi. NIH National Library of Medicine, National center for biotechnology information. A Single Drop of 0.5% Proparacaine Hydrochloride for Uncomplicated Clear Corneal Phacoemulsification. [Revised in September 2013] [Accessed on 18th June 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3757631/

3. Akorn. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Proparacaine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution USP, 0.5% Sterile. [Revised on February 2022] [Accessed on 18th June 2022] https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=37cde651-2549-43f3-97b9-cdc442a0aa7a&type=display

4. Bausch & Lomb Incorporated. Proparacaine Hydrochloride Ophthalmic Solution, USP 0.5%. [Revised on February 2020] [Accessed on 18th June 2022] https://pi.bausch.com/globalassets/pdf/PackageInserts/Pharma/Rx-Generics/Proparacaine-HCl-Ophthalmic-Solution.pdf